Article holder



Jul 18, 1950 c, N, EUDY 2,515,955

ARTICLE HOLDER Filed May 12, 1948 70 Ciaaz'Ze6 jffzz djy Patented July 18, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE This invention relates to improvements in portable liquid container support or article holders and relates particularly to a type that may be attached to automobile or truck interiors.

On long trips, for example, it is desirable to carry liquid refreshments and in such a manner as not to cause spilling by maintaining the bottles in a vertical position. Milk for babies may be carried within easy reach of the babys mother and yet allow for freedom of the hands in an emergency.

It is an object of my invention to provide a support that will securely hold one or more liquid containers.

Another object is to provide a support that will permit of easy insertion of a bottle.

A further object is to provide a support which will allow easy removal of a bottle therefrom.

A still further object is to provide a support which may be easily attached and positioned so as not to interfere with the movement of the occupants in the automobile or to obstruct entree or exit therefrom.

An additional object is to provide a bottle opener conveniently formed on the container support.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification, and the novel features of the invention will be more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings,

Figure l is a fragmentary front elevation of the panel board and steering wheel, showing one location where the support may be attached;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the support;

Figure 3 is an end elevation of the same; and

Figure 4 is a sectional view, taken on the line 44 of Figure 3 showing details of the bottle opener.

In the various figures, the numeral I refers to the panel board, while the side frames are indicated at I2 and I4 and the steering wheel at I6. A bottle or other liquid container is shown at Hi. In the drawings, provision is made for two bottles although it is conceivable that a single container may be used or a container providing for the reception of a plurality of bottles.

The support, referred to generally as 20, is composed of flexible or resilient metal straps. A main vertical member 22 is provided with a right angular bent base portion 24 and a front vertical member 26 which is inclined outwardly at 28.

A top flange portion 30 is bent at an approxiextending outwardly an appreciable distance and is then bent backward. This inwardly extending portion 32 is secured to the portion 30 by a rivet or other means 34. A hook member 36 is formed on the end of the member 32 and the portion 38 lying in the same plane with the member 32 and spaced therefrom. This outer end of the portion 38 is provided with a curved cut-out portion 40 to serve as a bottle opener. Openings 42 are also formed in the right angular member 30 for a purpose to be later explained. It can be appreciated that the edges 3| and 33 formed by the outwardly flared members 28 and 52 provide container abutting or engaging means which resiliently bear against the container and preclude dislodgement.

An approximately U-shaped member 44, of the same resilient material, is secured to the base 32 by rivets or other securing means 46. This member 44 comprises a vertical portion 48 and an inwardly inclined portion 50. However, it is to be noticed that an extension 52 is flared outwardly. As previously stated, the device could be arranged to provide a single support but in the disclosed form a double support is provided.

To accomplish this objective and to provide a sturdy support, another main member 54 is secured to the main vertical member 22 by rivets or other means 56. This member terminates short of the top of the vertical member 22 and is inclined downwardly and outwardly to space the second support from the first. This member 54 is provided with a base portion 58, lying in the same plane as the base member 24, the angular extension of which is bent to form the inwardly extending member 6!] and outwardly extending top portion 62.

Another resilient U-shaped member 64, having a vertical portion 65 and inwardly extending portion 68 is secured, in the same manner as the first support, by any conventional means or rivets H1 to the base portion 58. Similarly, the inwardly extending portion 68 is flared outwardly at 12. While the two U-shaped members 44 and 64 have been described as separate units, they may be formed integrally as shown in the drawings, the vertical member 48 being bent over on itself to form the vertical member 66. This, with the spring members of each support, will enable the container or recepteacle I8 to be firmly secured in a vertical position and yet enable easy removal of the container therefrom. Similarly, the edges El and 69 resiliently engage a container to secure it against movement.

mately right angle to the vertical member 22, Although the device is shown conveniently attached to the bottom of an automobile panel board, it is obvious that it could readily be secured to other locations in an automobile or truck. For example, it could be fastened in the same relative position on the inside flange of the car door facing by self-tapping screws or other means.

In application to the dash board, self-tapping screws, bolts, and nuts, or clamping means could be used. It is obvious that while the described means of attachment will reduce the movement of the container to a minimum, additional securing means could be provided as at 14 shown in Figure 2.

In use, the resilient support is secured in the automobile in a convenient location to permit of easy access to the container or containers andpreclude dislodging therefrom. Should 'a, con-. tainer, like a soft drink bottle, require the top to be removed, the bottle cap could be removed through the use of the bottle opener 36.

It is recognized that the device could be made of different material and could be strengthened by using channeled iron to increase rigidity. It can beappreciated that the securing means 14, described above, would materially assist in maintaining the support in position when the bottle cap device 36 is used.

I claim:

1. In an article holder of the class described, a main support, article engaging means secured to said support, said main support comprising a vertical portion having means for anchoring to an automobile dash board, a base portion lying at right angles to said vertical support and a shorter vertically extending portion having an outwardly extending flared end, said article engaging means comprising a substantially U-shaped member the side portions of which are adapted to resiliently engage the sides of the article to prevent movement of the article, the base portion of said U-shaped member being secured to the base portion of said main support, and a bottle opener formed at the top of said main support by having the end bent inwardly and then back upon itseli approximately one-half its length, a short downwardly extending portion having an outwardly extending portion spaced from said backwardl bent portion, said outwardly extending portion having a curved cut-out portion adapted to be engaged by the top of a bottle to permit removal of said top upon exertion of a force thereon.

2. In an article holder of the class described, a main support, article engaging means secured to said support, said main support comprising a vertical portion having means for anchoring to an automobile dash board, a base portion lying at right angles to said vertical support and a shorter vertically extending portion having an outwardly extending flared end, a second main support secured to said first main support by means of an angularly disposed connecting member which terminates in a base portion and an upstanding vertical central portion spaced from said main support and having a flared end, said article engaging means comprising two U-shaped members, the side portions of which are adapted to resiliently engage the side of articles inserted therein to prevent movement of said articles, and the base portions of said U-shaped'members being secured to said main supports, and a bottle opener formed 4 at the top of said main support by having the end bent inwardly and then back upon itself approximately one-half its length, a short downwardly extending portion having an outwardly extending portion spaced from said backwardly bent portion, said outwardly extending portion having a curved cut-out portion adapted to be engaged by the top of a bottle to permit removal of said top upon exertion of a force thereon.

3. In an article holder of the class described, a main support, article engaging means secured to said support, said main support comprising a vertical portion having means for anchoring to an automobile dash board, a base portion lying at right angles to said vertical support and a shorter vertically extending portion having an outwardly extendingflared end, a second main support secured to said first main support by means of an angularly disposed connecting member which terminates in a base portion and an upstanding vertical: portion spaced from said main support and having a flared end, said article engaging means comprising two integrally formed U-shaped members havinga vertically extending doubled central portion, two opposed base portions, two inwardly extending side portions being flared outwardly at their tops and adapted to resiliently engage the sides of articles inserted therein, and said base portions being secured to the base portions of said main supports.

4. In an article holder of the class described, a main support, article engaging means secured to said support, said main support comprising a vertical portion having means for anchoring to an automobile dash board, a base portion lying at right angles to said vertical support and a shorter vertically extending portion having an outwardly extending flared end, a second main support secured to said first main support by means of an angularly disposed connecting member which terminates in a baseportion and an upstanding ver-. ticalportion spaced from said mainsupport and having a flared end, said article engaging means comprising two integrally formed U-shaped membershaving a vertically extending doubled central portion, two opposed base portions, two inwardly extending side portions being flared outwardly at their tops and adapted to resiliently engage the sides of articles inserted therein, said base pore tions being secured to the base portions of said main supports, and a bottle opener formed atthe topv of said main support by having the end bent inwardly and then back upon itself approximately one-half its length, a short downwardly extendin portion having an outwardly extendingportion spaced from said backwardly bent portion, said outwardly extending portion having a; curved cutout portion adapted to be engaged by the top of a bottle to permit removal of said top upon exerq tion of a force thereon.

CHARLES N. EUDY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 96,527 Wilmot Nov. 2 1869 2,215,411 Sebring Sept. 17, 1940 2,263,956 Russell Nov. 25, 1941 

